Seau took risks as businessman

Sports hero lost money in ill-timed ventures, trusted con-man adviser

In 1995, he launched Say Ow water in one-liter and half-liter sport bottles. It’s not clear what happened to that idea, but no mention of the venture could be found since.

In 1993, he established Say Ow Gear, an active-wear line based in Oceanside. Two years later, it was doing more $3 million in sales, Seau said at the time, and was sold in local Nordstrom stores. A reporter quoted Seau as saying that he hoped it would be “a household name like Nike or adidas.”

But Seau faced a million-dollar lawsuit in 1995 by a New Mexico sportswear production company who said Seau ran off with a clothing franchise deal. It wasn't immediately clear how the lawsuit was resolved. The trademark is still active, but you can’t find any Say Ow Gear for sale.